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Lateral view of a Female Hexagenia limbata (Ephemeridae) (Hex) Mayfly Dun from the Namekagon River in Wisconsin
Hex Mayflies
Hexagenia limbata

The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.

Dorsal view of a Ephemerella mucronata (Ephemerellidae) Mayfly Nymph from the Yakima River in Washington
This is an interesting one. Following the keys in Merritt R.W., Cummins, K.W., and Berg, M.B. (2019) and Jacobus et al. (2014), it keys clearly to Ephemerella. Jacobus et al provide a key to species, but some of the characteristics are tricky to interpret without illustrations. If I didn't make any mistakes, this one keys to Ephemerella mucronata, which has not previously been reported any closer to here than Montana and Alberta. The main character seems to fit well: "Abdominal terga with prominent, paired, subparallel, spiculate ridges." Several illustrations or descriptions of this holarctic species from the US and Europe seem to match, including the body length, tarsal claws and denticles, labial palp, and gill shapes. These sources include including Richard Allen's original description of this species in North America under the now-defunct name E. moffatae in Allen RK (1977) and the figures in this description of the species in Italy.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Keystoner
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Eugene, OR - formerly Eastern PA

Posts: 145
Keystoner on Oct 25, 2011October 25th, 2011, 8:01 pm EDT
Just a really good video! I watched this every night for about a week when I first started.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvSDjHgo0UY
"Out into the cool of the evening, strolls the Pretender. He knows that all his hopes and dreams, begin and end there." -JB
Jesse
Jesse's profile picture
Posts: 378
Jesse on Oct 25, 2011October 25th, 2011, 9:58 pm EDT
Ive got the actual movie it's great stuff.
Most of us fish our whole lives..not knowing its not the fish that we are after.
http://www.filingoflyfishing.com
Sayfu
Posts: 560
Sayfu on Oct 26, 2011October 26th, 2011, 4:47 am EDT

One of Gary Borger's contributions for me, was his finishing knot for the fly. No tool, just twice under, pull up, and a drop of cement, and done. That was year's ago, and I have never used a tool since. Gary's comment was after showing you how simple the knot was..."Are we tying the fly to fish with?...or wearing it in our lapel? Gary had me hooked 100%.
Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on Oct 26, 2011October 26th, 2011, 6:18 am EDT
Wait a minute!? What's going on here on TroutNut this morning? Creno dumps a pile of wonderful stuff in our laps from the Lloyd collection, on another thread North Country Spiders,another has tips on tying with snowshoe rabbit hair, and now fly-fishing with Borger...And no rants from Spence!!!

Maybe that baptist out west, or where ever he is, was right...The world ended a few days ago and we are in an angler's version of heaven...Glad to see you all made it through to the other side...:)

There is just too much for one fella to digest here at one time today...Thanks!

Spence

"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Keystoner
Keystoner's profile picture
Eugene, OR - formerly Eastern PA

Posts: 145
Keystoner on Oct 26, 2011October 26th, 2011, 7:31 pm EDT
See Spence, dreams really can come true!!!
"Out into the cool of the evening, strolls the Pretender. He knows that all his hopes and dreams, begin and end there." -JB

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